A Texas death row inmate who maintained his innocence until his final moments has been executed for his role in a deadly 2008 armed robbery, despite last-minute appeals and a confession from his cousin claiming to be the actual shooter.
The inmate, James Broadnax, was executed by lethal injection on April 30 at the state prison in Huntsville.
According to officials, Broadnax was convicted in connection with the 2008 murders of Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler during an armed robbery that turned deadly.
Final Words Before Execution
Moments before his execution, Broadnax reportedly addressed the victims’ families and continued to insist that Texas had convicted the wrong man.
According to reports, he asked God for forgiveness but maintained that he was innocent.
Broadnax said the facts of his case would eventually speak for themselves, even as the execution moved forward.
Convicted in 2008 Double Murder Case
Broadnax was sentenced to death after being found guilty of participating in the robbery and murders in 2008.
His cousin, Demarius Cummings, was also convicted in the same case but received a sentence of life without parole instead of the death penalty.
For years, prosecutors argued that both men played direct roles in the killings.
Cousin’s Confession Raised New Questions
In a recent development, Cummings reportedly admitted that he alone fired the fatal shots.
According to court filings and media reports, Cummings claimed responsibility for killing both victims.
The confession became part of Broadnax’s final appeals as his attorneys argued that new evidence should stop the execution.
However, the courts were not convinced.
Defense Raised Claims of Jury Bias
Broadnax’s legal team also raised concerns about racial discrimination during jury selection.
Attorneys alleged prosecutors used internal documents that highlighted Black potential jurors during the selection process.
The defense argued this may have unfairly influenced who was allowed to serve on the jury.
Rap Lyrics Also Became Part of Trial
Another major issue raised during appeals involved rap lyrics written by Broadnax.
Defense lawyers claimed prosecutors presented the lyrics in court to paint him as violent and dangerous, even though the writings were not directly connected to the crime.
They argued this may have unfairly influenced jurors.
U.S. Supreme Court Denied Final Appeals
Despite multiple emergency appeals, the Supreme Court of the United States denied Broadnax’s requests for relief.
With all legal options exhausted, Texas officials moved forward with the execution.
Prosecutors had previously pointed to statements Broadnax allegedly made from jail in which he reportedly admitted pulling the trigger.
Victim’s Family Supported Execution
Reports indicate that relatives of the victims continued to support carrying out the sentence.
One family member reportedly dismissed Cummings’ confession as false and urged the state to move forward with justice.
The execution officially closed one of Texas’ long-running death penalty cases, though questions surrounding the evidence continue to be debated.
